Addressing Women's Vulnerability to HIV/AIDS in Nigeria
It is obvious that the growing number of young girls infected and affected with HIV/AIDS increases daily, and Nigeria is almost at the highest risk. An estimated 22.4 million adults and children were living with
HIV in sub-Saharan Africa at the end of
2008. During that year, an estimated 1.4
million Africans died from AIDS . Around 14.1
million children have lost one or both parents to the epidemic.
Losing future mothers to a scourge we can control is totally unacceptable. Yes, political will matters but I want to address the most important issues.
1. Local Impact: In recent years, most HIV/AIDS enlightenment programmes revolve around urban areas. As such, young people in rural communities lack this information and would continue to be vulnerable to the infection.
Every year, we are experiencing an up-surge of rural to urban migration (for employment and good livelihood). The group of youths migrating to urban areas come with little or no knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Therefore, it is
high time we set our target areas of sensitization to rural areas.
2. Partnership: As young people are up to making greater impact, we need to build strong youth-adult partnerships, and develop collaboration with government and other public agencies. I believe that advocacy is very crucial, as it will assist us get understandable partnership. Different
groups should be able to come together and have a one-voice, massive number of idealistic strategies for effective and sustainable impact.
Personally, I am worried about why Nigeria would still rank 2nd in sub-saharan Africa with 2.6 million people living with HIV/AIDS, after South Africa with 5.7 million. To date, it
seems we are yet doing little.
So, it therefore calls for massive commitment, especially from young people. If we continue to wait for political will, to some extent, we'll may fail. But if we are conscious of the negative effect we may face in the future living with HIV/AIDS, then, let us pull out our energy, intellect and resources to make this feat a success.
I trust us to make our voices heard at the forthcoming conference on HIV/AIDS. We young people need both technical support and funding for projects.
HIV in sub-Saharan Africa at the end of
2008. During that year, an estimated 1.4
million Africans died from AIDS . Around 14.1
million children have lost one or both parents to the epidemic.
Losing future mothers to a scourge we can control is totally unacceptable. Yes, political will matters but I want to address the most important issues.
1. Local Impact: In recent years, most HIV/AIDS enlightenment programmes revolve around urban areas. As such, young people in rural communities lack this information and would continue to be vulnerable to the infection.
Every year, we are experiencing an up-surge of rural to urban migration (for employment and good livelihood). The group of youths migrating to urban areas come with little or no knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Therefore, it is
high time we set our target areas of sensitization to rural areas.
2. Partnership: As young people are up to making greater impact, we need to build strong youth-adult partnerships, and develop collaboration with government and other public agencies. I believe that advocacy is very crucial, as it will assist us get understandable partnership. Different
groups should be able to come together and have a one-voice, massive number of idealistic strategies for effective and sustainable impact.
Personally, I am worried about why Nigeria would still rank 2nd in sub-saharan Africa with 2.6 million people living with HIV/AIDS, after South Africa with 5.7 million. To date, it
seems we are yet doing little.
So, it therefore calls for massive commitment, especially from young people. If we continue to wait for political will, to some extent, we'll may fail. But if we are conscious of the negative effect we may face in the future living with HIV/AIDS, then, let us pull out our energy, intellect and resources to make this feat a success.
I trust us to make our voices heard at the forthcoming conference on HIV/AIDS. We young people need both technical support and funding for projects.
Commentaires
Enregistrer un commentaire